Process for hard coating with sorbitol and products obtained thereby

ABSTRACT

Process for hard coating with sorbitol. On the one hand, a sorbitol syrup having a concentration of 60 to 85% by weight is supplied on a moving bed of cores to be coated and, on the other hand, the temperature prevailing in the bed is kept at a value comprised between 50° and 10° C. The present coating process applies conveniently to cores of the &#34;without sugar&#34; type in the field of confectionery and pharmaceutical products.

The invention relates to a method for hard coating (preparing harddragees).

It also relates to, as novel industrial products, the coated products soobtained.

It will be recalled that, by the expression "hard coating" is meant anyprocess consisting of coating a preformed element or core with anadherent envelope,

protecting the core against external physicochemical agents includingatmospheric moisture and the oxygen of the air,

conferring on the finished article a greater mechanical strength againstshock and abrasion as well as a more attractive appearance and aparticular flavor or taste.

The concept of so-called "hard" coating is distinguished from that ofso-called "gentle" (soft) in that it implies complete crystallization ofthe envelope with the evaporation of all the water contained in theconstituent material of the latter.

It is in the confectionary industry and pharmaceutical products thathard coating finds its principal uses, it being recalled that"confectionery" which can be coated comprises notably chewing-gums,chewing pastes, sweets (candies) and liquorice, and that pharmaceuticalproducts, liable to be coated, are constituted notably by tablets, pillsor bonbons including medicinal substances or active principles.

Both confectionery and the above-mentioned pharmaceutical products maybe of the conventional type, that is to say, including sugars such assaccharose, dextrose, fructose or glucose syrups; they may also be ofthe "sugarless" ("without sugar") type, that is to say based notably onpolyols such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol or the non-cariogenichydrogenated hydrolysate known under the trade-mark LYCASIN®, and devoidof saccharose, dextrose, fructose, glucose syrups or equivalentproducts.

The coating of the core is carried out in a tilted tub rotating aroundits axis and called a dredger, inside of which there is a plurality ofcores forming a moving mass, at the surface of which the constituentmaterial of the future envelope is distributed.

This constituent material is conventionally saccharose.

Now, saccharose, like other sugars such as dextrose or fructose, hasundesirable biological effects, notably from the point of view of dentalcaries. It can in fact very easily and very rapidly become acid becauseof the bacteria of the mouth. In addition, the sweet flavor of thesaccharose is often little liked, especially in the hot season, theconsumer then seeking in chewing-gums and confectionery generally, arefreshing and less sweet flavor.

It is, or course, particularly when the core is "sugarless" that thecariogenic character of the saccharose, when the latter is used for theformation of the coating, becomes redhibitory.

It is therefore quite naturally been suggested to resort in this case,to constitute the envelope during the coating process, to polyolsalready used for the constitution of confectionary or "sugarless"pharmaceutical products intended to be formed into dragees.

It happens that only xylitol and, to a lesser extent, mannitol are atpresent used for this purpose. They possess in fact, contrary tosorbitol, a hygroscopicity which is not high and good tendency tocrystallization, the latter being carried out fairly easily from theiraqueous solutions to give crystals of a well-defined type.

To achieve a satisfactory result with xylitol, it has however beennecessary to turn to the addition of manufacturing auxiliary substancesor additives, such as various fatty materials, various binders orsuspending agents, the envelopes with xylitol alone changing rapidly inthe course of time and forming small cracks, their outer surface, smoothinitially, becoming wrinkled and the internal structure of the envelope,which has initially a microcrystalline character, assuming a roughstructure unpleasant to the palate on chewing; in any case, it is nolonger possible to speak then of a hard coating with xylitol, similar tothat effected with saccharose.

As regards sorbitol, it is reputed to be completely inapplicable in ahard coating process. Thus, it has been clearly indicated, for example,that sorbitol can only be used as an ingredient of the core and not ofthe envelope, by reason of its hygroscopic nature. It is known, inaddition, that the crystallization of sorbitol is much more difficultthan that of xylitol and of mannitol and that this difficulty isaggravated by the fact that sorbitol can be obtained in severaldifferent crystalline forms only the gamma form constituting a stableform.

A known coating process indeed uses sorbitol as a coating agent, butassociated with an excess of xylitol and, on the other hand, the coatingsyrup is not constituted by a concentrated aqueous solution of sorbitoland xylitol, but by a melted mass of sorbitol and xylitol kept at atemperature between 85° and 90° C. It is known, also, that sorbitol andxylitol cannot be used satisfactorily in coating processes, and that if,for example, sorbitol or xylitol are sprayed onto the cores in the formof an aqueous 50 or 60% solution, as is usual for saccharose solutions,brittle, cracked and irregular products are obtained.

Now, taking into consideration notably the cost price of sorbitol whichis distinctly less, relative to the above-mentioned xylitol and mamitol,the Applicant Company, and this despite the above-mentioned definitelyunfavorable opinions existing with respect to the use of sorbitol incoating processes, pursued its investigations further and has had themerit of discovering that, unexpected and surprisingly, hard coatingwith sorbitol was possible provided that a certain number of operationalconditions were respected, the dragee products then obtained satisfyingthe various desiderata of practice.

Consequently, the process of hard coating with sorbitol, according tothe invention, is characterized by the fact that:

On the one hand, the sorbitol is applied by the addition, to a movingbed of cores to be coated, of a syrup having a concentration of drymatter comprised between 60 and 85% by weight, preferably between 62 and80% by weight and, more preferably again, between 65 and 77% by weight,the richness of the syrup in D-sorbitol being greater than 80%,preferably than 95% and, still more preferably, than 99%.

on the other hand, the temperature existing in the moving bed of coresto be coated is kept at a value below 55° C., preferably comprisedbetween 50° and 10° C. and, more preferably again, between 40° and 15°C., all of these conditions being selected, within the indicated limits,so that, when the sorbitol syrup arrives in contact with the cores to becoated, that is to say at the temperature maintained in the moving bed,it finds itself at a saturation level comprised between 0.65 and 1.25,preferably between 0.8 and 1.15.

In one of the advantageous embodiments of the above-said process, thetemperature of the sorbitol syrup applied is less than 100° C.,preferably than 90° C. and, more preferably again, than 70° C.

It will be recalled that, by the expression "saturation level", is meantthe ratio, for a given temperature, of the concentration of the syrupexpressed in grams of sorbitol per 100 cm³ of water, to the solubilitylimit of the sorbitol, at the given temperature, also expressed in gramsof sorbitol per 100 cm³ of water; in any event, below are given thevalues of the solubility limit of the sorbitol for a certain number oftemperatures:

    ______________________________________                                                   Solubility limit                                                   t °C.                                                                             (in g/100 cm.sup.3)                                                ______________________________________                                        20         220                                                                25         244                                                                30         278                                                                35         317                                                                40         362                                                                45         425                                                                50         500                                                                ______________________________________                                    

The dragee products according to the invention, notably obtained bymeans of the above-defined process, are characterised by the fact thatthe coating is with a sorbitol base, crystalline throughout thethickness of said coating.

The invention will be still better understood with the aid of theadditional description which follows and of the examples given withrespect to advantageous embodiments.

In order, consequently, to manufacture coated products, procedure is asfollows or in equivalent manner.

Into a rotary dredging kettle or tub of conventional type and equippedwith internal temperature control means, the cores to be coated of theconfectionary or pharmaceutical product type "sugarless" or not, areintroduced and there is sprayed onto the moving mass of cores, asorbitol syrup whose temperature is less than 100° C., preferably than90° C. and more preferably still than 70° C.

The sprayed sorbitol syrup applied has a concentration of dry mattercomprised between 60 and 85% by weight, preferably between 62 and 80% byweight and, more preferably again, between 65 and 77% by weight.

The richness of this syrup in D-sorbitol is greater than 90%, preferablythan 95% and, more preferably again than 99%.

The temperature existing in the moving bed of cores is kept at a valuebelow 55° C., preferably comprised between 50° and 10° . C and, morepreferably again, between 40° and 15° C.

The concentration of dry matter of the sorbitol syrup, on the one hand,and the temperature of the cores bed, on the other hand, are selectedwithin the above-indicated limits so that, when the sorbitol syruparrives in contact with the cores to be coated, it is at a saturationlevel comprised between 0.65 and 1.25, preferably between 0.8 and 1.15.

Conventionally, the coating is done in successive cycles each comprisinga first phase of the addition of the sorbitol syrup to the bed of coresand a second phase during which the addition is stopped whilstmaintaining the rotation of the tub and the temperature existing in themidst of the mass of cores, the envelope with which the cores have beencoated being dried and polished in the course of this phase.

The thickness of the envelope can be selected freely according notablyto the core to be coated or the desired effects.

In practice, to produce a coating envelope of 1 mm thickness, 15 to 20additions should be carried out successively.

The means for maintaining the temperature within the mass of movingcores can be constituted by a controlled temperature hot air blowingdevice.

By means of the coating conditions according to the invention, at nomoment in the process does fusion, nor irregular growth of the sorbitalcrystals in the course of formation occur, which leads at the end of theoperation to a smooth, hard and shiny surface, without "orange peel"phenomena or other surface irregularities.

These conditions moreover maintain a viscosity of the sorbitol syrupsuch that excellent distribution of the liquid phase on the cores incourse of growth is realised and hence rapid crystallization of thesorbitol.

These conditions, associated with the blowing in of hot air, enable theproduction of very fine crystals and excellent coating.

The Applicant Society has had the considerable merit of observing thatit is the conditions mentioned which lead to the desired result; infact, these conditions are quite contrary to the generally acceptedprinciple, which consists, as for example in the case of saccharose, ofoperating with high super-saturation to facilitate the formation of thecrystals. It happen that, as the Applicant's Company has observed,sorbitol solutions, taken to the same supersaturation conditions asthose currently utilized with saccharose (S>1.4) were of too high aviscosity, causing two major drawbacks, namely:

on the one hand, poor distribution of the liquid syrup on the cores,which could result in certain cases in sticking in the kettle, and,

on the other hand and especially, considerable delays incrystallization, leading to the formation of incompletely crystallizedirregular surfaces and hence having the essential drawbacks of poorstability and the lack of momentary freshness, the latter characteristicconstituting an intrinsic property of the stable crystalline form ofsorbitol.

It is possible to add to the sorbitol syrup to be sprayed, variousadditives such as dyes, flavors or agents improving the surface statesuch as bee wax.

Among the dyes, may be mentioned titanium dioxide, and among theflavorings, those of mint, orange and lemon.

Bonding agents such as vegetable gums and gelatine or fatty substancessuch as mono- and diglycerides may also be provided. Other sugars suchas xylitol or mannitol can also be added to sorbitol.

Among the constituent products of the core to be coated and which can beselected from the group of the confectionary and pharmaceutical productsindicated above, particular mention will be made by reason of thenon-cariogenic character of the coating obtained according to theinvention, of "sugarless" products and, among the latter, ofnon-cariogenic bonbons based on hydrogenated glucose syrups of theLYCASIN® trademark.

When, on the other hand, the core to be coated contains a fermentablesugar, the coating obtained according to the invention diminishes thecariogenic character of the whole and confers on it in any case thequalities inherent in crystalline sorbitol of the stable type, notablythe sensation of freshness.

The invention therefore has a general scope embracing all pharmaceuticalproducts and confectionery to be coated.

From a general point of view, it is emphasized that the coated productsaccording to the invention have a smooth and shiny surface, essentiallyfree of imperfections and crystalline throughout the thickness of theenvelope, that they are stable, even in very moist atmospheres and thatthey have in addition, a very pleasant cool sensation at the moment ofconsumption, due to the high heat of solution of the sorbitol as well asits high solubility at 37° C.

A. COATING OF A "SUGARLESS" TYPE CHEWING-GUM

"Sugarless" type chewing-gums are prepared according to the method andcomposition described in French Pat. No. 79-15479 of June 15, 1979.

The composition taken was the following :

    ______________________________________                                        Base gum type PA-LOJA 25 parts by weight                                      NEOSORB ® powder 60 (mp 96° C.)                                                          50 parts by weight                                      LYCASIN ® 80/55 with 80% of dry                                                                 25 parts by weight                                      matter containing flavorings and                                              dye perfumes                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The base gum, previously heated to 75° C., was kneaded in a kneader ofthe KUSINER type provided with hot water circulation, in the presence ofthe liquid phase (LYCASIN®+fragrances and dyes); the solid phase(NEOSORB® powder) was added gradually in small amounts.

After dusting with mannitol, the paste was rolled and cut up intolozenges of conventional shape.

It was these lozenges that were coated.

To do this, 500 g of the abovesaid lozenges were placed in a laboratorydredger of the "LILLIPUT" type manufactured by FROGERAIS, equipped withan air blower to maintain the temperature of the bed of lozengesconstant, and a thermometric probe located in this bed.

Rotary speed of the dredger : 25-30 rpm.

The coating product constituted by a sorbitol syrup was kept at constanttemperature by means of a thermoregulated water-bath.

The coating syrup was added in successive batches (cycles) of 20 g ofsyrup, the introduction of these batches being done in some secondsevery ten minutes, the time separating the end of one introduction fromthe following introduction being necessary to obtain the crystallizationof the sorbitol and the evaporation of the water thus liberated.

The total amount of syrup to be added depends, in particular, on thethickness desired for the envelope.

The sorbitol used for the coating was constituted by a hydrogenatedglucose syrup known by the name NEOSORB® 70/02, whose purity on drymatter was 99%.

EXAMPLE 1

Two coating tests followed, the temperature of the bed in the course ofcoating being kept at 30° C., which value was necessitated by thesoftening of the gum.

The concentration of the coating syrup was 83% of dry matter.

The conditions and results of these tests are collected in Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        Test No.           1          2                                               ______________________________________                                        Concentration of   83%        83%                                             coating syrup                                                                 Temperature of     70° C.                                                                            40° C.                                   coating syrup                                                                 Temperature of     30° C.                                                                            30° C.                                   the moving bed                                                                Number of cycles   5          5                                               Weight of syrup    100 g      100 g                                           applied                                                                       Observations       o          o                                                                  o          o                                               ______________________________________                                    

In this Table as well as in those which appear in the remainder of thedescription, the symbols shown in the line "Observations" characterisedthe results of the tests concerned. The significance of these symbols isindicated in the following Table :

    ______________________________________                                               very            very accep-            very                            mediocre                                                                             mediocre poor   poor table average                                                                              good good                            ______________________________________                                        o      o        o      o    +     +      +    +                                      o        o      o          +      +    +                                               o      o                 +    +                                                      o                      +                               ______________________________________                                    

The surface of the coated products was swollen, there was poordistribution of the syrup and sticking occurred in the dredger aftereach addition.

The situation was, in fact, in both cases, under conditions of highsupersaturation (saturation level : 1.70).

EXAMPLE 2

Five tests followed using a syrup with 70% of dry matter. The conditionsand results are collected in Table II.

                  TABLE II                                                        ______________________________________                                        Test no.    3       4       5     6     7                                     ______________________________________                                        Syrup concentration                                                                       70%     70%     70%   70%   70%                                   Syrup temperature                                                                         90° C.                                                                         70° C.                                                                         65° C.                                                                       40° C.                                                                       40° C.                         Temperature of the                                                                        30° C.                                                                         30° C.                                                                         30° C.                                                                       30° C.                                                                       30° C.                         moving bed                                                                    Number of coating                                                                         14      21      21    15    21                                    cycles                                                                        Total weight of                                                                           280 g   420 g   420 g 300 g 420 g                                 syrup applied                                                                 Observations                                                                              +       +       +     +     +                                                         +       +     +     +                                                                       +     +                                     ______________________________________                                    

It is noted that at 70% of dry matter, the improvement is very distinct.The saturation level is, for this concentration and at this temperature,0.85.

There was still slight sticking at the time of each cycle, followed by arapid fluidization of the moving mass.

The results improved progressively as the temperature of additiondecreased. The good behavior on storage and the excellent momentaryfreshness on consuming the products obtained, is marked.

EXAMPLE 3

Procedure was as indicated in Example 2, the concentration of the syrupbeing at 75% of dry matter (saturation level : 1.08). The resultsrecorded are very good, the temperature of the coating syrup not havingexceeded 90° C. The good behavior on storage of the products obtainedand their excellent immediate freshness was noted.

B. COATING OF THE COMPRESSION PRODUCTS

The cores to be coated were prepared on a rotary FROGERAIS compressionmachine with 16 punches of the MR2 type, operating by directcompression.

The product used was powdered sorbitol of the NEOSORB® 20/60 typeflavored with mint and including 0.3% of lubricant constituted bymagnesium stearate.

The coating was carried out by means of the equipment described withrespect to the coating of the "sugarless" type chewing-gums.

In the case of the coating of these compression products with NEOSORB®,the temperature of the coating bed could be raised to 70° C., since themelting point of the NEOSORB® is higher than 95° C.

The additions of coating syrup were 20 g every 10 minutes.

EXAMPLE 4

By means of nine tests, the influence of temperature on the bed in thecourse of coating and of the temperature of a coating syrup, whoseconcentration was 70% of dry matter, was studied.

The conditions of these tests and the results recorded are collected inTable III.

                                      TABLE III                                   __________________________________________________________________________    Test no. 8   9   10  11 12 13 14 15 16                                        __________________________________________________________________________    Concentration                                                                          70  70  70  70 70 70 70 70 70                                        of the syrup (%)                                                              Temperature of                                                                         90  70  60  90 70 90 80 70 40                                        the syrup (C.)                                                                Number of cycles                                                                       5   12  14  19 21 21 34 21 21                                        Weight of syrup                                                                        100 240 280 380                                                                              420                                                                              420                                                                              680                                                                              420                                                                              420                                       added (in g)                                                                  Temperature of                                                                         70  70  70  50 40 30 30 30 30                                        the bed (C.)                                                                  Saturation                                                                             <0.40                                                                             <0.40                                                                             <0.40                                                                             0.56                                                                             0.67                                                                             0.85                                                                             0.85                                                                             0.85                                                                             0.85                                      level                                                                         Observations                                                                           o   o   o   o  +  +  +  +  +                                                  o   o   o   o        +  +  +                                                  o   o   o               +  +                                                  o   o                      +                                         __________________________________________________________________________

It appears, on examination of the results gathered in this Table III,that, for a coating syrup with 70% of dry matter, it is advantageous tokeep the temperature of the bed during coating below 40° C. Above thistemperature, the solubility of sorbitol is very high and the syrup with70% of dry matter, placed under these conditions, is in a state of veryconsiderable under-saturation. At 30° C. (tests 13 to 16), a substantialimprovement in the results is observed progressively as the temperatureof the coating syrup increases, passing from 90° to 40° C.

For these tests, the good crystallinity of the layer, the excellentstability on storage and the good immediate freshness is marked.

EXAMPLE 5

Procedure was identical with that described with respect to Example 4,resorting to a syrup with a concentration of 75% of dry matter.

The results recorded on keeping the temperature of the moving bed ofcores at 40° C. and, below 90° C., preferably below 70° C., thetemperatures of the coating syrup, were excellent.

EXAMPLE 6

Eight tests followed in the manner indicated in Example 4, theconcentration of the syrup being 80%.

The conditions and results are collected in the Table IV.

                                      TABLE IV                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Test no.  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24                                      __________________________________________________________________________    Concentration                                                                           80  80  80  80  80  80  80  80                                      of the syrup (%)                                                              Temperature of                                                                          70  110 80  70  60  110 50  70                                      the syrup (C.)                                                                Number of 14  14  14  14  14  14  14  14                                      cycles                                                                        Weight of the                                                                           280 280 280 280 280 280 280 280                                     syrup added (in g)                                                            Temperature of the                                                                      70  50  50  50  50  45  45  30                                      bed (C.)                                                                      Saturation                                                                              <0.50                                                                             0.80                                                                              0.80                                                                              0.80                                                                              0.80                                                                              0.95                                                                              0.95                                                                              1.43                                    level                                                                         Observations                                                                            o   o   +   +   +   o   +   o                                                 o   o       +   +   o       o                                                 o                                                                   __________________________________________________________________________

On reading these results, it is observed again that the temperature ofthe bed in the course of coating is a determining factor.

In test 17, the temperature existing in the bed, that is to say 70 C,was too high.

At a bed temperature of 50° C. the results were satisfactory when thetemperature of the syrup was 80°, 70°, or 60° C. (tests 19, 20 and 21).

In the case of test 18, the temperature of the coating syrup being 110°C., the result was poor (there apparently occurs a partial refusion ofthe surface of the core at the moment of the addition of syrup, thesorbitol melting at 96° C.).

The result is satisfactory for test 23, the temperature of the bed being45° C.

For test 22, the remarks are the same as for test 18.

In test 24, the temperature of the bed being 30° C., the coating syrupbecame too viscous at the moment of addition to the moving bed(saturation level : 1.43), whence a poor distribution of the liquidfilm.

C. COATING OF "BOILED SUGAR" BONBONS OF THE "SUGARLESS" TYPE.

Boiled sweets were prepared in the laboratory by evaporating to aresidual moisture less than 0.5% a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate ofthe type marketed under the trademark LYCASIN® 80/55.

The bonbons thus prepared were made into spherical form (diameter :about 1.5 cm.)

For the coating, the equipment and conditions of operation describedabove were used. The temperature of the moving bed was kept at a valuebelow or at the most equal to 30° C.; this value was necessitated by theconstituent material of the cores.

All the coatings were carried out on 500 g of cores.

The conditions and results are collected in the Table V

                  TABLE V                                                         ______________________________________                                        Test no.       25     26        27   28                                       ______________________________________                                        Concentration  70     70        75   80                                       of the syrup (%)                                                              Temperature of 40     90        80   80                                       the syrup (C.)                                                                Number of cycles                                                                             15     15        15   15                                       Temperature of 25     25        30   30                                       the bed (C.)                                                                  Saturation     0,97   0,97      1,1  1,43                                     level                                                                         Observations   +      +         +    o                                                       +      +         +    o                                                       +      +                                                       ______________________________________                                    

On examining the results collected in Table V, it is observed that, fora bed temperature of 25° to 30° C., the coating is good in the case ofsyrups having 70 and 75% of dry matter. The crystallinity of the surfaceis good, as is the immediate freshness (tests 25, 26, 27).

This coating improves the behavior under storage of the bonbons withLYCASIN® and gives them a pleasant immediate freshness.

At 80% of dry matter (test 28), the coating syrup becomes viscous andconsiderable sticking occurs in the dredger, due to the superfusion ofthe liquid sorbitol.

As is self-evident and as emerges besides from the foregoing, theinvention is in no way limited to those of its types of application andembodiments which have been more especially envisaged ; it encompasses,on the contrary, all modifications.

We claim:
 1. Process for hard coating with sorbitol of cores ofconfectionery and pharmaceutical products, comprising:applying thesorbitol by addition, on a moving bed of cores to be coated, of a syruphaving a concentration of dry matter comprised between 60 and 85% byweight and a richness in D-sorbitol higher than 80%, maintaining thetemperature existing in the moving bed of cores to be coated at a valuebelow 55° C., selecting these conditions within the limits indicated insuch a way that, when the sorbitol syrup arrives in contact with thecores to be coated, that is to say at the temperature maintained in themoving bed, the said sorbitol is at a saturation level comprised between0.65 and 1.25.
 2. Process according to claim 1, comprising applying asyrup of sorbitol having a concentration of dry matter comprised between62 and 80% by weight.
 3. Process according to claim 1, comprisingmaintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to be coatedbetween 50° C. and 10° C.
 4. Process according to claim 2, comprisingmaintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to be coatedbetween 50° C. and 10° C.
 5. Process according to claim 1, comprisingselecting the conditions in such a way that the sorbitol is at asaturation level comprised between 0.8 and 1.15.
 6. Process according toclaim 2, comprising selecting the conditions in such a way that thesorbitol is at a saturation level comprised between 0.8 and 1.15. 7.Process according to claim 3, comprising selecting the conditions insuch a way that the sorbitol is at a saturation level comprised between0.8 and 1.15.
 8. Process according to claim 4, comprising selecting theconditions in such a way that the sorbitol is at a saturation levelcomprised between 0.8 and 1.15.
 9. Process according to claim 1,comprising, maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 10. Process according to claim 2,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 11. Process according to claim 3,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 12. Process according to claim 4,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 13. Process according to claim 5,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 14. Process according to claim 6,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 15. Process according to claim 7,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 16. Process according to claim 8,comprising maintaining the temperature in the moving bed of cores to becoated between 40° and 15° C.
 17. Process according to claim 1,comprising maintaining the temperature of the sorbitol syrup as appliedbelow 100° C.
 18. Process according to claim 1, comprising maintainingthe temperature of the sorbitol syrup as applied below 90° C. 19.Process according to claim 1, comprising maintaining the temperature ofthe sorbitol syrup as applied below 70° C.
 20. Process according toclaim 1, comprising applying a syrup of sorbitol having a concentrationof dry matter comprised between 65 and 77% by weight.
 21. Processaccording to one of claims 1 to 20, comprising applying a syrup having arichness in D-sorbitol higher than 95%.
 22. Process according to one ofclaims 1 to 20, comprising applying a syrup having a richness inD-sorbitol higher than 99%.